Question for legislators? You might be able to phone it in

OLYMPIA – With the legislative session a little more than halfway through, many Washington residents might have a question or two for their state senator or representatives.

Some might have lots of questions.

Although many legislators are ensconced in Olympia for the duration, some plan to come back for town hall meetings this weekend. Others will be asking their constituents to phone it in – take part in a teleconference version of those meetings, sometimes known as a tele-town hall.

“It’ll be interesting,” state Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, said of his first tele-town hall, scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight. Although he served some 15 years in the House, the technology didn’t exist to do call-in meetings with large groups when he left the Legislature in 1995.

Participants call a toll-free number and enter an access code to participate. Some just dial in to listen; others want to ask questions.

In a session that involves fixing a major gap in the state’s general fund, cutting programs, possibly raising taxes, and approving a bill to allow same-sex marriage, there’s probably plenty to talk about.

Reps. Timm Ormsby and Andy Billig will hold a joint town hall meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt St. Sen. Lisa Brown may also attend, depending on the Senate schedule for the weekend.

Rep. Kevin Parker will hold a tele-town hall at 6:30 tonight; dial (877) 229-8493 and enter code 15438. He will also hold a live town hall at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ridgeview Elementary School, 5610 N. Maple St.

Rep. John Ahern will hold a live town hall at 3 p.m. Saturday at North Spokane County Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road.

9th District (southeast Washington counties, including southern third of Spokane County)